The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-02
THE BOOK TABLE.

The closing chapters Of Mr.. Stock
toms second novel appeared in the
Octobs number Of the Century, and
to the relief Of all its readers and sub
scribers, II is not necessary to etate
that it has been q failure. The author
has attempted to weave out OF the
merest nothinRs story which Is
neither romantic psr realistic. There
have even been absent Stockton's |
bright flashes Of hum1r, which may |
have relieved IL OF it's ttdium and
prollxity. There ia quaint comical- |
ity about John Pebbles, the manager
oil VJtad's restaurant, who worsLips
the daughter OF his employer, and
fans the Il .me by his tender solici,ude
by preserving choice d.licscles for her
in the ice ohet. There lie serious hu-
NOR In the etrike Of the walters at
Vatsldi, when ordered to weSr the
livery OF "ihe SWELL" Ia Enoch Bull.
ripple the cunning, foresight and IN.
dependence OF TIE New York Tuetic Ia
heavily ovsrdoI Q, snd there is little in
lis natural character to warrant the
author selecting him as the "hun.
dred;h man." There are two stories
running side by side, neither OF which
depends for its scion upon the other,
and, save for the fact that the scenes
of them are in the same neighbour
hood, and that the characters
occasio lslly meet, they might be
read as separate stories. Mrs. Juztin
Gay Armolt, MIR. Srstford, Mr.. Thorn
and Mr.. Chrisman form a group
whose history have nothing in com.
mon with John PEBBLES and his erTat-
ic mother and uncle.
Mr.. Stockton has become prolix
through an eff ri to be minute. His
| Details OF the mental calculations oil
hia characters are provokingly tire.
some, leading ss they do to no climax
or incident. The theory OF the search
for the hundredth man Is set forth In
the opening cbspers, but II Is too
vague 70 fix itself upon the memory
Of the reader, and the significance Of
ths title 70 lost long before the inter.
oct 10 excited. After "Rudder Grange"
end ssme OF his inimitsble short
stories, 1.-THE Hundre ith Man" falls
utterly fat. A casual reader would
never recognise the latter as Stock
toms handiwork after reading the
| former.
Readers OF today have become too
exacling 10 accept everything from Q
we'll known author on the same stand.
ard; iailures are branded as such and
success 10 its o wn advertisement.
There will be huudIeds Of resders
who will pronounse this latter work
one OF Slockton's best. 10 such we
tender the right Of opinion.
The World continues 10 quote the
opinions OF eminent men on the
Bsconian theory. 7 10 Is now getting
to be something Of a chestnut.
Celia Parker woolley has concluded
that there Is great connection between
Love and Theology" aud has written
a novel bearing this title.
BY q singular coincidence the war
papers and history OF Lincoln, which
nave been monopolis,ng valuable
space In the Century, will cease With
the October number.
HRughton, NJ III u 4 Co. announce
a sumpiuous edition Of "The Pictorial
Arts Of Japan" Artists proof edition
is limited 10 100 copies aud the price
is fixed at 600.
r. Hopkinson Smith, who lie q
genius with the pencil, has added 10
ais well won reputation by a charming
book Of travel through Spain, Holland
and l ally.
EIElbs;h sluar, Paelps has certain.
ly exhausted the subject Of "Gstes."
La addition 10 her two previous works,
"The Gaies AjAf" and Beyond the
Gates," che has published "Bstween
the Gates." IL 10 suggested that she
tell Us next lime what's Behind the
Gates"
Oliver Wendell Holmes has written
q bright and entertaining account Of
his recent trip abroad. II Ia published
BY Haushton, Mi1lin a Co., and
Is called "oae Hundred Days In Ea.
rope"
In the South the works OF James
Russell Lowell, one Of Americas most
gifted literary men, are very little
read. A master In style and decision,
IL 10 10 be regretted he 10 ROT better
known and quoted. A holiday edition
OF "The Vision Of Sir Lanfriel" 10 an
nounced.
Marion Crawiord's "Pasel PAtoG,"
which appeared sshslly In the At
lantic Monthly, 10 announced In book
| form. rns scene 10 laid In Constant.
nople, the hero being Rissiin'
The long expected History Of Ten.
nessee," Ia the American Common.
wealth's series, written by our dis.
/ uukuentu utinU-f VI Nehh''NNt setaNe
PnelAn, 10 announced by the publish
era.
The faculty for b.ory writing In the
stockton family Is no, eonhhed to
Flank X now 20 well known. HIS sic.
ter Lpai6s hsf jdet published, In Lip
pincolt, an interesting novelette,.
The bookstores sre now tuppied
fully with the second volume oiJulian
Has,horae's sensational tales, o'm
piled from the day Of Inspector
Byrnes. "a Tragic Mystery" h = NJ
o5mpsnion TO "The Great Bank Rob
Dery."
Robert Grants smusl1g satire ON
society girls, entitled Confessions Of
Fryoious Girl," has been brought oul
In cheap edition by Ticknor q 20.
T.w. Hissinsoa ha, writIeaa novel
for the Century, the scene oil which Ia